Lake Burton is located in Northeast Georgia, about 25-miles northeast of Helen. Lake Burton was named after the town of Burton that now lies beneath the lake's surface. On the lakes west side is the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery and Moccasin Creek State Park, which offers tent, trailer, and RV Campsites, a boat ramp and dock, wheel-chair accessible fishing pier and some hiking trails. The lake is used for generating hydroelectric energy for the city of Atlanta during periods of peak electricity consumption. Lake Burton is owned and operated by the Georgia Power Company.
Fishing at Lake Burton
There are a few boat ramps for Lake Burton. The Murray Cover Boat Ramp is located off of Bridge Creek Road on the Southeastern portion of the lake. The Tallulah River Boat Ramp is location north of the Lake on the Tallulah River. Moccasin Creek State Park has a boat ramp and so does LaPrade's Marina.
The species of fish found at Lake Burton include: largemouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, white catfish, walleye, brown trout, rainbow trout, and yellow perch.
Lake Burton Fishing Tips
For Largemouth Bass
The largemouth bass at Lake Burton love feeding on blueback herring, so the Pearl Colored Zoom Super Fluke's have a great advantage among artificial lures. When jerkbaits aren't getting you any bites, finesse worms fished along points, humps and creek channels can be effective. During fall and winter months, crayfish account for a big part of their diet, so pig & jig combinations are good baits for the colder months. Fishing live bait around downed timber in February and March will offer a good chance of producing the largest trophy bass of the year.
In general, target fallen trees, creek channels and boat docks in coves and small pockets. During the spring, largemouth will stay close to visible cover with overhead protection to build their spawning beds. In the summer you should target largemouth in 20 - 30 feet of water along the main lake points and in creek channels; Carolina rigged soft plastics would be a great way to start. In the fall, fishing for largemouth is productive in the early morning and evening in the vicinity of their spring and summer locations.
For Spotted Bass
Lake Burton is known for its trophy spotted bass and is the location for the state record for spotted bass at 8 pounds and 2 ounces. In February and March, fish with pig-and-jig combinations, tube jigs, plastic worms, or herring imitations, such as the Zoom Super Fluke, around woody debris and rocky points. Fishing near the dam can also be good when spotted bass are feeding on herring at the surface. In the Spring, Pearl colored Super Flukes and soft plastic worms are effective when fished around the corners of boat docks and downed trees near deep water. Carolina-rigged finesse worms are good when drug across rocky bottoms. When the spawning season is over and around dusk and dawn, spotted bass will chase topwater lures, such as the Zara Spook Lure or a Pointer 100, near points and humps in open water. Once fall has arrived slap a Super Fluke on a jig-head and fish in the mouth of creeks were blueback herring congregate.
For Brown Trout
Lake Burton is stocked every fall with about 20,000 ten-inch brown trout. By the time spring comes around, they will be about 15-inches long and weight about one pound. The same time the following year, the trout will be around 20-inches long and weight close to four pounds. The best time to catch brown trout is from July through September. From August to October, trout can usually be found from the dam to the first upstream safety marker. Trolling live bait, spoons or shad-imitating crankbaitsover a 50 to 100-foot bottom at depths ranging from 30 to 60-feet can be productive. During the summer, trout at Lake Burton will feed at the surface about an hour or two before daybreak, surface plugs and live baits are effective at this time. In November, use in-line spinners around the dam, Murray's Cove boat ramp and Moccasin Creek boat ramp to catch recently stocked trout.
For more great articles and information about fishing in Georgia, visit us at http://www.anglersofgeorgia.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_M_Keith